Sept 5 (Reuters) - French aerospace and defense group

Safran is exploring the sale of a large part of its

aircraft interiors business, Financial Times reported on Friday,

citing three people familiar with the matter.

The assets sold could be worth as much as 1.5 billion euros

($1.76 billion), the report said. The company's cabin seat

business, also part of the division, was not for sale, the FT

said.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Safran

did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Formed 20 years ago through the merger of state engine

maker Snecma and electronics firm Sagem, Safran co-produces

engines for Airbus and Boeing medium-haul jets with GE Aerospace

.

Safran acquired the aircraft interiors activities in 2018

when it bought seats manufacturer Zodiac Aerospace.

The assets for sale, which include everything from overhead

cabin bins to kitchen galleys and interior fittings, are

expected to garner interest from both private equity groups and

equipment makers, the newspaper said.

Talks of the potential sale emerge as the group looks to

unload lower margin products while focusing on higher-margin

areas such as jet engines, the report added.

Safran in July

raised

its annual forecasts after reporting stronger-than-expected

first-half profits, with its troubled cabin interiors unit

edging further into the black.

Separately, the company has considered selling its

in-flight entertainment products business, a smaller division,

the Financial Times reported.

($1 = 0.8542 euros)